STMicroelectronics STEVAL-TCS004V1

Overview

STEVAL-TCS004V1 from STMicroelectronics is a demonstration board built around the STMPE1601 16-bit I²C port expander and ST7263BK6 USB microcontroller, enabling keypad scanning, PWM control, and power-mode management in embedded human-interface applications. It supports standalone operation and PC GUI mode via USB Mini-B, features an LCD display, matrix keypad, dedicated keys, rotator controller, and RoHS-compliant construction.

For engineers reviewing the STEVAL-TCS004V1 datasheet, STEVAL-TCS004V1 pinout, STEVAL-TCS004V1 application, or STEVAL-TCS004V1 equivalent, this board serves as a validated reference for STMPE1601 integration, I²C master–slave architecture with ST7263BK6, real-time key event capture, and Windows-based GUI development for low-speed USB HID-class interfaces.

Technical Context

The board implements a dual-chip architecture: the ST7263BK6 acts as I²C master and USB device controller, while the STMPE1601 functions as I²C slave handling 16 GPIOs, keypad scan engine (8×8 matrix), 4-channel PWM generator, interrupt-driven event reporting, and power-saving modes including standby and sleep. Communication between host PC and board uses a custom USB application layer built atop ST's USB core library.

All user interactions-including key presses (matrix, dedicated, special function), rotator position changes, and power mode transitions-are captured by the STMPE1601, relayed to the ST7263BK6 over I²C, and displayed both locally on the onboard LCD and remotely in the PC GUI's scan window-enabling rapid validation of port expander behavior under real-world timing and interrupt load.

Key Specifications

Availability

STEVAL-TCS004V1 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for embedded HMI development, USB peripheral prototyping, and STMPE1601 evaluation requiring stable component supply and full documentation support.

Supply support for STEVAL-TCS004V1 includes scheduled delivery planning, volume procurement assistance, BOM continuity management, traceable sourcing, and lifecycle availability coordination for OEM customers, industrial embedded developers, connected-device designers, and electronics production programs.

Manufacturer

STMicroelectronics is a global semiconductor leader headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, designing and manufacturing microcontrollers, analog ICs, power devices, sensors, and digital media solutions for automotive, industrial, and consumer markets.

This board belongs to ST's STEVAL (ST Evaluation) series-engineered specifically to accelerate customer adoption of ST's interface and mixed-signal ICs through turnkey, fully documented, and GUI-supported reference platforms.

FAQ

Does STEVAL-TCS004V1 require external power or drivers?

No external power is needed-the board draws 5 V directly from the USB Mini-B port. Windows drivers are included with the PC GUI software package; no additional driver installation is required beyond standard USB HID class support in Windows XP and later.

Can the STMPE1601 on this board be replaced with another port expander?

No-the board is specifically designed for the STMPE1601 and its pinout, register map, and firmware are not compatible with other port expanders. The ST7263BK6 firmware assumes STMPE1601's I²C address (0x40), interrupt signaling, and keypad scan engine behavior.

What software tools are provided with STEVAL-TCS004V1?

ST provides the complete Windows GUI application, source code for the ST7263BK6 firmware (in STVD/STVP format), schematic PDF, PCB layout files, BOM, and a data brief (Doc ID 16765). No third-party IDE or compiler license is required to rebuild or modify the firmware.

Is the LCD display user-programmable or fixed-function?

The onboard LCD is fixed-function and driven directly by the ST7263BK6 via parallel interface. Its content is preconfigured to show key events, rotator status, and power mode-no user-accessible character set or graphics RAM is exposed; updates occur only through firmware-controlled writes.